Provincial calibre talent on hand at Grass Roots Soccer Camp

Alberta Soccer Association coach John Clubb works with those in the camp on various ball handling skills.

The wind may have been cool and brisk on the final day of the Grass Roots Soccer Camp but that didn’t stop aspiring soccer players from continuing to work on their skills. The camp, hosted by the Fort St. John Soccer Club had players working with members of the Alberta Soccer Association.

Provincial coach for the Alberta Soccer Association John Clubb said there is a good core of soccer players in the community, and the lessons taught have been with the aim of encouraging young ones to stay involved in the sport, and potentially move on to the provincial level.

One of the main focuses of the camp may seem peculiar to those who don’t understand the game inside and out, but Clubb said the notion to purely kick the ball prevents grass roots players from learning the rest of the game.

“I have one rule for playing soccer: You’re not allowed to kick the ball. No one is allowed to kick the ball. It’s the one message that can change the whole way we play the game. I hear it so often from the bleachers, ‘kick it, kick it, good kick, big kick.’ We want children to pass the ball, shoot the ball, dribble the ball so there’s a bit of decision making going on.”

Clubb and Alberta Soccer are hoping to return in October to put on another camp.